M&T Bank, Buffalo, NY

LinkedIn Profile

Why did you decide to attend Saunders College of Business at RIT?

I attended RIT for my undergrad program and had a wonderful experience at the college. I was on the fence about graduate school immediately after graduation, but knew that I wanted to pursue an MBA given my interests in business and marketing. The deciding factor was when RIT awarded me a graduate assistantship - I couldn't turn that down.

In what ways have Saunders and RIT prepared you for the job market?

RIT has a strong reputation both domestically and internationally, which helps when applying for roles. The career staff and career matching website also support placement for co-ops, internships, and permanent roles post-graduation. The MBA program at Saunders College of Business focuses on real-world management scenarios that enabled me to add value to each of the roles I've held since graduating.

What do you feel is the most distinctive advantage gained from your Saunders experience?

One of the cornerstones of an RIT education is technology. Each program has aspects that focus on the way technology can help drive business forward, even if your major isn't computer science or IT. Being able to look at a business process/system and understand options for automation or other improvements is a key differentiator for any role.

What do you do?

As a senior product owner, I manage and lead a group of product owners. My team supports some of the core operating systems for commercial servicing as well as new technology implementation projects. The majority of my time is spent with stakeholders from each of the areas we support to understand their business priorities. Additionally, I work with my team to ensure our roadmaps are delivering the most business value possible while staying within our capacity.